Crikey Mike, you start off with a very well reasoned post and then chuck
in the Leny!

I've done the Leny fairly low and it's helluva rocky, with the water
levels we have now I doubt if there would be what I would even consider
a river. Even if it was barely trickling it's going to be harder than
grade 1/2, but for the main I just wouldn't even consider it unless it
rains, when it is definitely harder (I'm being realistic about what I
consider an easy fun run here).

To be honest I can't think of much that would suit you, the Tay
obviously has plenty of stretches (Grandtully might just be too much for
you but all the rest should be fine at summer levels) And the only place
where access is at all contested is at Stanley, and I've only ever met
the protagonist once in all my trips there, and even then he doesn't
have a right to prevent you getting on, and as has been stated there are
alternative get ons if you want a longer trip. I don't know what
gear/experience you have but Grantully is usually busy through the
summer and if there isn't a race on you might feel safe enough playing
on it and getting tips from other people - only problem may be that not
all slalom paddlers have a high tolerance of people learning to paddle
where they are training :-(

I've only done the Teith quite high and I found it tedious, (OK it''s
not my style of river but...) I would think it would be a bump and
scrape nightmare at summer levels - but I don't know.

There must be some paddling on the Forth but I've only ever heard of one
ill-planned trip where the stretch turned out to be considerably further
than expected, that was a scout trip I think so if you plan a decent
length section it should be alright :-)

Other than those I don't think there are any rivers worth doing near
Callander, although there are of course plenty of Lochs.

Personally I'd bring mountain bikes and go exploring the Trossachs / QE
Forest etc. Don't bother asking for information about trails, they only
tell you about fire roads (which are boring), for singletrack just take
a map, compass and a healthy respect for any walkers you meet and do it.
It's kind of a shame that the Forestry people haven't developed some
decent singletrack in the Trossachs, many other forests have well
developed routes but apart from Glentress the Trossachs seems to have
the most mountain bikers, and the least routes!

I reckon Mike's covered Dumfries pretty well, except to say that sea
touring on the Solway Firth seems pretty good if you have suitable boats
/ weather - I don't know if you have the experience for that? Of course
I can't believe the lower Nith will have any water (except very close to
Dumfries), the gorge may have enough water but that's not the
recommended bit :-)

Good luck

JIM

Mike Buckley wrote:

Bother? What "bother" is that then? This is Scotland we're talking about and
we don't have an access problem!

Loch Lubnaig and Loch Ard. Loch Tay and Loch Earn. No probs there.

Pop across to Perth and do the Tay from Stanley to Thistlebrigg. Minor probs
at Stanley but you'll be within your legal rights.

If the Leny is low, its relativly gentle (ex the Falls of course). The Teith
from Callander down to the take out which is by the Quarry entrance and just
below the last rapids would also fit your criteria very well.

Dumfries - paddle Loch Ken. Also consider the Nith - especially the
Drumlanrig Bridge to Thornhill section or on to the bridge at Auldgirth. If
you want to play on the Caul at Dumfries you'll find DKC there most Tuesdays
about 6.30ish.

Border Esk is gentle-ish - one nasty droppy bit.

Have fun - Mike.


Ewan Scott wrote in message
om...

Going home to Callander and later to Dumfries next week. I'd intended
taking boats with us and doing some paddling but after checking out
the access pages on the Scotish Canoe Union site it looks like an
awful lot of bother.

We might well do some on Loch Lubnaig, but wouldn't mind trying some
gentler stretches of river Grade 1/2, or somewhere where we could
play about below falls in relative safety. ie running the Leny is not
an option.

Ewan Scott